January Buddies

[suzyscientist]

Mine and Christine - you gals live in two of the cities I most want to visit! My grandfather lived in Seattle for a while back in the 90s and he said it was the only place he would ever consider living in permanently, other than his home town (in Ireland...). And a good friend of mine did a year's exchange at university in Vancouver and it looked amazing... I really want to visit! One day... when I win the lottery

So it's lunchtime here, and I was about to get some soup when I noticed sharp pains at the back of my jaw (near where my wisdom teeth used to be). Wonder if it just means that the feeling in my jaw is coming back? Or something else? My teeth are super-sensitive too... I'll mention it to the surgeon tomorrow when I see him. I've been clenching a lot lately... so it could be that as well.

I saw my normal dentist today, he was shocked I'd had surgery already! He wasn't expecting that til the summer. He said there's some staining around the brackets so I'm going back in 4 weeks and he's going to give my teeth a proper clean, and then I'll see him again in 6 months time for my next check-up. Maybe by then I'll have my braces off... FINGERS CROSSED!!

Hope everyone is doing well today

Suzy

[I love my teeth]

Quick update, then I have to start my crazy, crazy day!!

Mine--it sounds like we both got the exact same "speech" from dr bloomquist, except I didn't get the elastics, but I only had lower jaw. I went for my 2 week followup and he had me start stretching my jaws for range of motion and continue on a soft diet until March 9--then after that visit, probably back to ortho. When is your next followup after postop day 5??

Went for an acupuncture session yesterday---so very cool!! She was great! Although I can't say there is any change in the numbness, she said 6-8 total treatments should yield some result. what I do feel is an improved bite and a bit less pain/resistance in my right TMJ joint. I think being a physio I am sometimes a bit to in tune with my body!! I am finding that my bite changes through out the day, which I attribute to muscle tension/tightness. I wake up in the morning, and my bite is absolutely gorgeous! But by midday, I am a bit edge to edge on the left (which was my worse side) and not as overlapped on the right, sometimes by the end of the day I am almost edge to edge on both sides, which freaks me out! But then by morning, all is beautiful again! So, I know it's all muscular, but anyone else experience this weirdness (maybe not if you are wearing elastics??) So, anyway, last night my bite was perfect after I chilled out before bed watching TV, and I woke up and it was gorgeous, and now I've eaten breakfast and did some stretching, and its still overlapping.....acupuncture success? I have no idea!!

I go back again next week for another session, she said after a few sessions she will start some microcurrent for the numbness to see if that works. I could be imagining it, but my lip feels like it's still numb, but maybe I can feel my finger touch it a little more???

Busy day today, lots of cleaning, bills to pay, hockey teams to manage (as the boys start playoffs this week), teachers to fight with (had a heated email exchange with a 5th grade teacher yesterday), topped off with a 10year old hockey game that starts at 8pm---

Talk more soon!
Christine

[suzyscientist]

I'm so interested in the acupuncture results - it's great that it might be working already! I know a lot of people who have had results with acupuncture for different things, so it's fantastic if it can help numbness. I think I might try it too!

Good luck with your crazy day... hope it goes ok! I had a long day (tho not so crazy!), so off to bed already

Suzy

[I love my teeth]

I am currently a believer in acupuncture!!! I may have only a slight improvement in my numbness, but my "self" feels better, and more normal, my energy is better too! My TMJ muscles are less painful(more relaxed), I have more Range of Motion, this seems to be allowing my bite to seat better-if that makes sense. This has allowed me to actually use my jaw better because more of my teeth are meeting, so I can chew better---I had a huge plate of sweet potato fries for dinner

Had to eat on the run from a hockey practice(with 1 kid) to a first grade school dance (with the other). I was able to socialize with the moms at the dance, with the music blasting!! Several of them had NO idea I had surgery!! very exciting!! my mouth is a bit tired now, but overall my range of motion is approx 2-3 finger widths...so a fair improvement in 1 week I think (from about 1 1/2 finger widths).

My stitches are starting to come out, they are getting caught in my brackets, but I can't pull them out yet--I was able to clip one side with a mini scissor, but not the other--hoping hubby can clip it for me later tonight (he's having a ski night-nice ) Much better with out the long stitches wrapping themselves around everything when I am eating!!

Hope you all had a good day! I am looking so forward to getting back to acupuncture next week!!

[suzyscientist]

What a loooooooooong week!

It's Friday night here, all my friends have gone out to dinner and drinks to celebrate my return to work.... and I'm at home, on the sofa, in my PJs! I'm so frustrated: my brain is recovered, but my body hasn't. So brain is getting annoyed with body. Oh well.

Saw my surgeon yesterday and he's really happy with me. Said I've still got a lot of swelling in my chin, which is interesting because I thought it had mostly gone! So my chin will be even more refined than it is now, so I'm really pleased I have to see him once more, in two weeks time, and then I'll be discharged from surgery and over to the care of orthodontics just to polish off my bite. Can't wait! I'll miss my surgeon and his awful bedside manner

Well ladies, I'm exhausted, so I'm off to bed... sad but true.

Hope you all are well and making great progress!

Suzy

[suzyscientist]

Hello hello

Scotland calling

How is everyone? I just thought I'd stop by and see how all the Januarites are doing!

No change for me - still numb, still got residual swelling (that seems to go up and down on a day to day basis??!!) and still on mushy food. Next week I have my last appt with the surgeon and after then I should (fingers crossed) be ok to eat normally! I can't wait!

Seeing orthodontist today... not really sure what they're planning to do! I can only open my mouth 2 finger widths on a good day, so just have to see.

Small question: where I had my wisdom tooth out on the right side, there's a hard pea-sized lump above the crater (can't think what else to call it) where the tooth used to be. I'm wondering if it's just scar tissue or is a stitch coming out? Anyone had anything like that?

Hope everyone is doing well!

Suzy

[I love my teeth]

Hi suzy-

nothing new here---going to acupuncture today, will write more after treatment. I think now at 4 weeks, I finally feel more myself--the kids say I am yelling at them a lot more again!!

my mom and dad are coming for a week long visit on Thursday night...my youngest turns 7 next week, so we have a bday party....I have been spending more time in the kitchen--baking valentines cookies, brownies, and lots of regular dinners....still can't chew, but am managing some chicken if it's quite soft...otherwise it's still mushy stuff.

I'll write more about acupuncture later!
C

[I love my teeth]

good morning fellow Januaryites!!

I have nothing new really, just plodding away with recovery I guess. Went to second acupuncture yesterday. basically, same treatment, although overall since last week, I'd say I have had some changes in my numbness, it's less "no feeling" and slightly more "weird feeling"....I will go again next week, hoping "weird feeling" turns into "feeling"!!

My mom and dad arrive from NY to stay with us until Feb 26th----We are so busy with the kids school and hockey, and preparing to move in 2months-I'm not sure why I agreed to this visit. But I know she'll get me off my butt and getting out!! We may try and go snowshoeing one day, since I can't ski.

Otherwise that's it for me, My range of motion is almost consistently 3 finger widths now, which is good, I still have about 3 weeks before I see the surgeon.

Christine

[suzyscientist]

Woooo 1 month surg-iversary!!

Only 6 days before I can start to eat normal food!!

We're having a big party next weekend to celebrate my eating-ability, the rugby 6 nations, and my friend's Saint's day... can't wait

Question: is anyone still absolutely exhausted all the time? I'm so tired constantly! I've tried to get as much good nutrition as possible, but I still have NO energy. I had to ditch Friday night dinner *again* last night... I'm not sure if it's the food situation or still a hangover from the general anaesthetic. It's starting to get a bit annoying...

I'm sure I'm starting to annoy my colleagues, complaining about how tired I am all the time... but seriously, just walking down to the coffee shop (2 flights of stairs and about 20 metres lol) leaves me too tired to drink my coffee!

Christine I'm so pleased the acupuncture seems to work! I am going to try and find a therapist here... my first priority is to see a chiropractor though, because with all my weird jaw-friendly sleeping positions I've managed to do something very odd to my neck and upper back... there's a giant knot in the muscle at the base of my neck that just won't relax, and I keep getting muscle spasms...

You're very brave taking on so much at once! Moving house, parents visiting, and you have a busy home life anyway! Oooh snowshoeing! That sounds brilliant! Could you do cross-country skiing? That might be less dangerous for your jaw Hope you have a brilliant weekend whatever you do

It's a snow day here today, so I'm settling down on my couch with some hot chocolate & marshmallows No snowshoeing for me!

Hope everyone is doing really well!

Suzy

[mine]

Hi there! It's been a while since I posted. I'm a little over 3 weeks post-op now, but man, it feels like it's been longer than that. Things have been going well here. It's fun waking up every day and not knowing what I'm going to look like in the mirror, since my swelling seems to go up and down so much. There have been days where my swelling seemed to be almost completely gone, and I get to get a glimpse of my "new" chin. I'm so happy with how it looks! I also obsessively check my bite throughout the day, and it's weird how much it seems to keep changing. I tend to worry about every little abnormality I observe, like how my right canines seem to touch more than my left ones, and that I seem to have a posterior open bite now, as in my molars don't touch. Thankfully, searching around on the Internet usually ends up comforting me, and I understand now that's it's too early to worry about these things, as there's still a lot of fine adjustment to come once I start going back to my orthodontist.

I went for another follow up on Wednesday, and the doctor decided that I was tending back to an open bite. So he instructed me to wear bands in my front teeth, essentially forcing my bite shut, and, well, OUCH! After being all excited about being able to eat soft foods, my teeth feel so tender now that it's back to soups and mush for me. I look a bit ridiculous with the bands being so visible (it's impossible to miss them if I open my mouth just a little bit), especially talking to people at work who don't know I had surgery, but by now learned too just ignore that self-conscious feeling. The first couple of weeks I kept feeling like I had to explain why I sounded weird to every random person I talked to, even though I doubt they cared!

I too have been feeling pretty tired and/or lazy. I especially noticed after I started taking the stairs again to my apartment -- this used to be no problem for me, but now it's a pain. I know I must have lost a ton of weight and haven't been eating much (especially now that I have to take my rubber bands out to be able to put anything in my mouth), but I also think it's because I took such a long break from exercising and just day-to-day walking (to work), stair climbing, etc. The doctor told me I could start exercising again, so on Monday I'm going for a swim at the gym. I'm looking forward to that, I've had enough of being a couch potato!

[amandapanda]

Hey everyone,

I feel pretty energetic... or maybe I've been forcing myself to feel that way. I was out all day yesterday as I was training at my uni for the mentoring program. Basically, I'll be mentoring a group of first year students tomorrow. It's pretty daunting though since I still can't seem to talk properly. I'm gonna try my best though.

Mine, OMG we are so similar! I have been checking my bite in the mirror all the time. My bite seemed to shift a little and I became obsessive because I was worried that my bite was going crazy. (Or perhaps it was me? I'm a bit too paranoid for my own good) My swelling is going up and down as well. It seems to get worse when I sleep on only one pillow or when it is extremely hot.

My doctor said that the swelling should go down once my stitches come out... but it's been a month since my surgery and only three have come out. I'm wondering why it's taking so long. My doctor gave me a pamphlet that said the stitches should come out by themselves in three - four weeks after surgery. I've got so many stitches above my top teeth, and I've still got a lot of swelling on my upper lip so it's still really hard to close my lips together. Anyone else having the same problem?

Hope you are all doing well xx

[I love my teeth]

Oh you guys make me feel so much better!!!! I am exhausted and my parents are here visiting-and neither my mom or my husband understands why!! I guess it's just normal!! I am winded just doing a couple flights of stairs. I did manage to vacuum the house--carrying the vacuum up and down...exhausting!! I have been in the kitchen alot cooking too. I am motivated to do more, but soooo tired!!

I am constantly checking my bite too! I am noticing every little daily change, in my case, most of which I believe are muscle related. The amount of muscle tension/spasm is unreal!! my upper back/neck, throat (just the muscles), and all around the TMJ. I will say 100% that 2 sessions of acupuncture have helped dramatically! my bite is more consistent, which means I believe those muscles are finally settling down. I believe there is less spasming, and I wake up less in the middle of the night with muscle spasms, and my bite is not all funky at the end of the day after I've used it all day!

I can open a solid 3 finger widths now (about 30-32mm)--doc wants 40mm by March 9th, so I am getting there--I credit the acupuncture as well--with the muscles relaxed I think i am gaining more range of motion.....I seem to gain about 10-20% more range in the first 48hours after the session. The numbness is still there, maybe only changing minimally.

I still have stitches too--they are starting to dissolve, I did have to go in with a small scissor and cut some of the long strings--but there are still some there---I will be 5weeks post op tomorrow....

I can feel I still have a lot of swelling too, especially inside my left side....I think it's improved, but still there! My husband thought I looked swollen yesterday morning, but better in the evening.

I am eating pretty well--did some chicken cordon bleu, beef wellington (with ground beef) and brussel spouts....

more to come soon!
Christine

[suzyscientist]

5 weeks surg-iversary!

Not sure if I'm imagining it but I think I might be getting some feeling back in my chin. It's really hard to tell... but I think I can feel *something* just not normal feeling... so fingers crossed this is the nerves starting to recover

I'm so glad you guys mentioned stitches! I was starting to worry that they used normal ones but told me they were dissolvable... I've only had two come out (I don't know how many I have but there are 6 for my chin so must be maybe 18 in total? Total guess...) and I've got little lumps where the stitches are. I hope that's just scar tissue growing or something. According to extensive google research ( ), depending on the type of dissolvable stitches used it can take up to months for them to totally dissolve.

I'm going for a sports massage this weekend. My back is so stiff and sore from all the lounging around, and my sore neck isn't getting better! I know a good therapist who is aware of my surgery so hopefully she'll help out my poor muscles!

Definitely want to try acupuncture but I can't find a local therapist. There is one in another city but I don't really feel like travelling an hour each way - that would probably undo all the good work!

Seeing the surgeon tomorrow - hopefully for the last time - and I'll hopefully be allowed to start chewing!

I think we're all on bite patrol at the minute! I'm the same too!! My bite needs some work... it is pretty perfect on right side but left isn't great, but I guess orthodontics will help that! I think because my wisdom teeth are now gone there might be some movement...

Working from home today - teaching starts tomorrow and I need to prepare. Quite nervous about having to speak in front of a class! I'm sure it will be fine... half the students never pay attention anyway so doubt my new jaw will make any difference

Hope everyone is doing well today!

Suzy

[suzyscientist]

I can chew! Last night I bit into pizza and it was brilliant! I didn't end up with cheese all over my chin and only the crust of pizza left in my hand... there was a nice mouth-shaped bite off the end of the bit of pizza

I'm now officially discharged from surgery - I saw my surgeon yesterday and he's really happy with my progress, everything is peachy so he doesn't need to see me again, and will leave it down to orthodontics to perfect my bite!

Saw orthodontist today and she's scheduled me in for 2 weeks time to get the wires changed to more flexible ones to help my teeth move into a position that fits my new jaw.

All very exciting!

Oh and this week, finally I am feeling human. I haven't been half as tired, I've been out and about more and I'm starting to think I could even start back at the gym. About time

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Suzy

[I love my teeth]

Hey there!

I've been so busy also!! 6 weeks post op this week. Also, feeling more energy! Had a really busy week last week, my parents were visiting, my youngest turned 7, so we had a family bday night, then a friends bday party!! Busy with hockey playoffs for both boys. I was stuck at the rink for 4 hours on Sunday over dinnertime, I managed to eat onion rings for dinner---gross, yes, yummy-yes!! But I was able to eat them!!

I ate a california roll last night with out cutting into quarters, I still have a really hard time moving larger bits of food around my mouth, but I am trying! Haven't tried pizza! I am also starting to bite with my front teeth.

Continuing at acupunture weekly, last week she started microcurrent on my face (which also gives the benefit of "facial rejuvination"-which at my age I could use!!) I will say I have feeling back in my lip and chin--still weird and not normal. I can also feel my gums much more when brushing.

I can open consistently to 3 finger widths ( 30-34mm), I seem to have hit a wall with that, and can't stretch open any further at this point!!

I see the surgeon next Wednesday for an "almost 8week follow up"--hoping to be DC to orthodontics as well....I still have some open chains on my teeth from December (yuck!)--they are so gross and stained!! I will be happy to get those off!

The move back to the US is ramping up, they have been showing my place to rental (which means I have to keep it clean), and the movers are coming today to assess the amount of stuff they have to move. I am drowning in 5th grade homework with my older son, and hockey at least 8x/week with both kids!!

Will update more after I see the surgeon next week! Glad you are feeling well, Suzy!